10 Faces You Never Thought You'd See On WWE TV

10. Kota Ibushi

Before the Cruiserweight Classic, there were dozens of talented grapplers from around the world seemingly destined to never step foot in a WWE ring.

It was a combination of their smaller stature and the language barrier that left them off McMahon’s radar. Triple H, on the other hand, believed that American audiences were craving the fast-paced, technical, authentic action happening on the international spectrum.

Kota Ibushi personifies that style. For the past 13 years, the Golden Star has dominated Japan, winning championships in various promotions. As soon as his name was announced for the tournament last summer, Ibushi became the favorite to lead WWE’s new initiative. He lost in the semifinals due to not signing an exclusive contract, a wise decision after seeing the mangled division today.